Cardinal Call

February marks our celebration of Black History month! I would like to thank our student leaders and advisors of Black Student Union for their work on our celebration this month. We have spirit days this week to celebrate the start of the month. They are:

• Monday: Color War - Wear your grade level's assigned color to show your school spirit!

• Tuesday: HBCU Gear

• Wednesday: Black Idol Day (dress like your favorite idol, or dress with one of their inventions or designs)

• Thursday: 1990s/2000s Day

• Friday: Black Out Day

Also, our BSU organizations from around the district will be hosting Soul Food Night on February 27th at East from 5:00-7:00 PM. Let's have a great week!

Sincerely,

Jim Ertel

Principal

Dear SPASD Parents and Caregivers,

In response to recent activity impacting students, families, and school communities, we want to reaffirm our district’s mission, vision, and commitment to equity and remind our community of existing district policies related to access to education, protection of student information, and interactions with immigration enforcement.

Our School Board’s Equity Statement affirms:

"We stand by all of our students, staff, and families. We celebrate and value our diverse community and support all students, staff, families, and community members of all races, ethnicities, faiths, national origins, immigration statuses, political viewpoints, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. All children will be safe and loved in our schools… Every Child, Every Day."

We want to assure you that all students, families, and staff regardless of immigration status continue to be welcome and safe in our schools. We are committed to standing together and ensuring all members of our community feel seen, supported, and protected. We want to remind families of several important district policies:

• Access to Education: All students, regardless of immigration status, have the legal right to attend school under federal law.

• Protection of Information: The district does not collect social security numbers of students or families, for purposes of enrollment. Student data is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and district policy restricts law enforcement investigations or interviews in schools.

• Immigration Enforcement: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is not allowed to enter our buildings without a judicial warrant. Any ICE activity or inquiries will be handled by district leadership and our school district legal counsel.

To help families stay informed and connected to resources, we encourage you to visit our Resources for Immigrant Students & Families webpage.

Thank you for being our partner in making SPASD schools a safe and welcoming place for every student, family, and staff member. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Attention Seniors- The local scholarship application deadline has been extended to February 12th at 11:59pm. The local scholarship gives students the opportunity to apply for scholarships specifically for students in Sun Prairie. Click here to access the application. If you have any questions, reach out to your counselor.

This week, students have spent time in SP30 working on requesting their courses for next year. Parents are able to view their students' requests in Infinite Campus under Academic Plan. Please take a few moments to review the courses together. If your student still needs to enter their course requests, a video on how to do so can be found here. The last day to submit course requests for next year is Wednesday, February 4th.

This semester the Business Leadership Academy had students partner with Pam Blattner and the Amputee Coalition on a project to bring awareness and advocacy for individuals with limb loss in Wisconsin. Earlier this month a team of students from both East and West presented their findings to Pam. Based on their work, it opened up a new door and on Friday the students had the opportunity to present their research to State Senator Melissa Ratcliff at the capitol. The students shared stories and insights of individuals with limb loss and the challenges they face. They were able to effectively use their voice to lift up and advocate for others, which hopefully will further legislation that will help the limb loss community in Wisconsin.

School Board Reps: Want to become a Student School Board Representative and interact with your school and community on a whole new level? Applications are due February 14th, 2025.

Black History Month: ​100 Years of Celebration!

In February 2026, we are proudly celebrating Black History Month with this year’s theme as Threads of Tradition: A Century of Black History Commemorations. Nearly 100 years ago, Dr. Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week in 1926, planting the seeds for what we now celebrate as Black History Month. What began as a courageous act of truth-telling has grown into a powerful tradition that honors our past, affirms our identity, and inspires our future. For a century, the commemoration of Black history has been both memory and movement—a living legacy carried forward through scholarship, art, music, faith, storytelling, and activism. Each generation has added its voice and its brilliance, strengthening our collective story and ensuring that the contributions, resilience, and humanity of Black people are never erased, silenced, or forgotten.

The district-sponsored Black History Month event will be the Annual Soul Food Dinner held on Friday, February 27 at Sun Prairie East High School from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Complimentary food tickets will be available for the first 250 guests or until supplies are exhausted. All are welcome to attend the celebration. This year’s entertainment is DJ Ree and the Prairie View Dance Team, with their advisors Jamiyah Garner and Madi Riste from Prairie View Middle School. Spread the word and join in on the fun!

Linked below is the January French Newsletter.

Linked below is the Band program newsletter.

Door 6 or the driveway just to the left after you pull into the parking lot off of HWY N is open for drop off and pick up before and after school. Utilizing door 6 allows for less parent traffic outside the main entrance as students are entering and exiting the student parking lot. Please use door 6 if you are dropping off or picking up your student before and after school.

There are no classes available to add new students to Behind the Wheel training. Students who are eager to complete their license should pursue a Private Driving School.

Funds for income eligible students, ages 14.5-19, to take driver training coursework and/or behind-the-wheel are now available through the Driver Education Grant Program. Students should visit Wisconsin Department of Transportation Driver Education Grant Program to enroll.

The funds will be made available to eligible applicants on a first come, first served basis, until the available funds for each quarter are depleted. Students will present the school with the DMV-provided coupon. Schools enrolled as a WisDOT vendor will enter the student’s name and coupon identifier into the Driver Education Completion (DEC) system. Funds will be paid directly to the driver training schools. Students unable to receive funding should visit Wisconsin Department of Transportation Driver Education Grant Program to re-enroll each quarter.

5th Hour Tutoring is up & running for 2025-2026! 5th Hour Tutoring runs Tuesdays - Thursdays from 3:50-4:40PM in the LMC, with teachers from English, math, science, social studies, art, and more available to work with students. Students are able to take the activity bus (which leaves at 4:45PM) home after 5th Hour tutoring.

If you are interested in UW Madison's Summer Engineering Program please see the information HERE.

The Sun Prairie Optimist Club is proud to host an Essay Writing Contest for local youth - a chance to share your voice, reflect on service, and win prizes! Link HERE.

Additionally, the application to the Orville Frank scholarship can be found HERE. More about the scholarship: Orville Frank was a dedicated, charter Optimist Club member. He was a long-time resident of Sun Prairie, and retired veteran. Orville passed away in 2020, and we continue to honor him with these scholarships.

Spring sports registration opens February 1 on Infinite Campus. All student-athletes must have a valid sports physical on file before participating in practices or competitions. Physicals dated after 4/1/24 are valid for the 2025–26 school year, and physicals dated after 4/1/25 are valid for both the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years. Physicals must be signed, dated, and stamped by a physician; electronic copies are accepted only if electronically signed by the doctor.

Jenna Boberg, CAA

Athletics & Activities Director

When Quarter 2/Semester 1 grades are posted, any winter athlete or student participating in activities who has a posted “F” or “INC” will enter an automatic 15 school day and night suspension period.

During this suspension, students may continue to attend and participate in practices, but may not participate in any athletic or activity competitions, games, or events. This suspension is enforced upon grade posting and is not a probationary period.

The 15 school day and night suspension must be served in full. Grades for SP30 assignments are included when determining eligibility.

All athletic event cancellations due to weather will reflect on our athletic schedules.

HERE is our district policies on weather related school closings.

There's still another weekend for you to catch Bright Star! There are plenty of tickets available and the cast, crew, pit and production team of Bright Star would love to see you there! Here is the trailer for a sneak preview.

Our athletes and families are invited to join Influential Athlete’s monthly virtual NIL Masterclasses to learn how to navigate NIL safely while maximizing opportunities and building skills for life after sports. Sessions take place on the last Tuesday of every month (except December) at 6 PM CST.

2025 – 2026 Schedule:

• Feb 24, 2026: Protecting Yourself in NIL Deals

• Mar 31, 2026: Financial Management for NIL Athletes

• Apr 28, 2026: Maximizing Media Exposure

• May 26, 2026: Life After Sports – Using NIL to Build Your Future

Please see the linked information for upcoming contests.

Sun Prairie East High School

Principal: Jim Ertel

Asst. Principal: Pang Khang, Rachel Looper

Main Office: 608-834-6703

Website: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/east-high
Location: 888 Grove Street, Sun Prairie WI 53590